Workforce Supports

Focus Area:

Tribal Child Welfare Workforce

The workforce is the heart of every Tribal child welfare program—carrying the knowledge, relationships, and responsibilities needed to protect and support American Indian and Alaska Native children, families, and communities. Staff often serve in multiple roles, navigate complex systems, and provide culturally grounded care in the face of limited resources, high caseloads, and systemic barriers. Many bring lived experience and deep community connection to their work, anchoring their efforts in relational practice and cultural responsibility.

Despite their dedication, Tribal child welfare professionals face persistent challenges related to recruitment, retention, burnout, and lack of access to relevant, culturally appropriate training and leadership pathways. Building and sustaining a strong Tribal child welfare workforce requires long-term investment, organizational support, and strategies that honor Indigenous knowledge, promote healing, and recognize the sovereignty of Tribal nations.

How the Center Supports the Workforce

The National Tribal Child Welfare Center for Innovation and Advancement provides no-cost, community-centered support to strengthen the Tribal child welfare workforce across three service areas:

Technical Assistance

Through tailored technical assistance, the Center helps Tribal programs assess workforce needs and implement strategies that support staff wellbeing, role clarity, and sustainable structures.

Resources

Resources include tools, trainings, and knowledge products co-developed with Tribal partners to support ongoing learning and leadership development.

Learning Opportunities

Through peer connections, Tribal child welfare professionals share approaches, teachings, and uplift Indigenous approaches to care, supervision, and leadership. Services offered are shaped in partnership with each Tribal program, grounded in Indigenous Ways of Knowing, and designed to reflect the realities of the work.